Conqueror. Warrior. Gladiator. All are words that describe
people of great strength, power and authority. Picture the Colossuem in Ancient
Rome and men fighting to the death.
Picture brave soldiers on the battlefield storming the beaches of Normandie.
Picture fire fighters blazing through fire
and smoke to enter the World Trade Centers after they were attacked. Now picture David and Goliath. No one would have imagined that the youngest
son of Jesse would be able to overtake the giant Philistine Goliath. He certainly didn’t look like a conqueror to the
human eye. But, David approached this battle with the
belief that God would provide the means necessary to defeat him. After all, Goliath was simply a mortal man. Who has the power to defeat God? No one.
And you know how that story goes.
Now picture me. I certainly
don’t have the stature to look like a conqueror either (after losing most of my
muscle and 10 pounds during treatment).
I certainly haven’t felt like a warrior (with fatigue and pain). Who am I to defeat cancer? Who am I to tackle the GLADIATOR? But guess what? Romans 8:37 says “No, in all
these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us.” I AM a conqueror. I AM a warrior. I AM a gladiator. And so
are you if you choose to believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ who gives you
strength and power you never knew you had!
You have heard through previous posts that my goal was to do
a “comeback” race. Being athletic and
loving to train for events, I thought that just 3+ months after treatment I
would be more than ready to attack a
course again. I planned an entire
weekend full of festivities for my family and friends to commemorate my
comeback from cancer. It was time for me
to prove that I “Kicked cancer’s A$$”.
I have to tell you that the week prior to this race, I felt
worse than I had felt since treatment ended.
My jaw pain was near unbearable.
I don’t cry easily (what warrior does?) and I don’t break down. But this pain was beyond anything I could
fathom. And unfortunately, since the
beginning, pain management has been a challenge for me. Narcotics make me looney. But I found that a simple regimen of 4 ibuprofen every 6 hours was the only thing
that would mask the pain. If I missed a
dose, I would be on the floor crying until the newest meds began to work their
way through my system providing relief from this torture. Besides the pain, I had constant chills and redness
on my face from the infection that was painful to the touch. My jaw opening was diminishing by the day,
making eating a chore. The infection was
worse and the hole in the roof of my mouth was like a fishing net used to capture
what little food I could eat (the water pik had become my dear friend). I was weak and fatigued and TIRED. I was sick
of cancer. BUT… Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest.” So that’s what
I did.
But, I have to admit, that I also questioned what I had
gotten myself into. I was in no way,
shape or form prepared for even just a regular 5K. I was physically exhausted. My
mom, of course, being a mom, told me not to do it. She told me to check with my doctors. She was worried. I didn’t tell my doctor, by the way, just in
case he would have told me not to! In this case I went with the theory that it was
better to ask forgiveness than permission J
But just like David knew he would conquer Goliath, I knew I would be able to
conquer the Gladiator course with the power of the Holy Spirit. So,
with that in mind, I tried to ignore all the things that were getting me down,
and began to focus on the things that were bringing me up…like my friends.
My dear friend Terry flew out from Rhode Island to be with
me. My sweet Shelly flew out from
California too. Two beautiful, loving women who hold a very special place in my heart, took time away from their families and spent money that could've been put to better use, all to celebrate with me. I am blessed. With Terry, Shelly and
my precious friends from Austin (Chris, Stacy, Torri, Gina and Jen), we headed
to San Antonio on Friday, November 8th. Cancer be damned! Terry, Shelly and I drove out earlier than
the other girls, and we made a much needed pit stop at the outlet malls in San
Marcos. After a couple hours and some
fun finds, we made our way to San Antonio. Starving, we stopped at Taco Bell
for a quick bite (I was able to eat little soft bites of a bean and cheese burrito). We found it ironic that they had an entire
wall full of donation tags for cancer research.
Oh, I forgot to mention that
Shelly gave me our mascot for the trip, who we named “Hotty Hedgehog”; a Scentsy
buddy wearing a “Cancer Plum Sucks” t-shirt. We took pictures of him
everywhere we would go, like you would for your kids with Flat Stanley. We would laugh like little girls as we posed him
in front of the outlet mall, at Taco Bell and later in San Antonio at all our locales, including the mud pit! Yes, people thought we were crazy people going through some sort of mid life crisis, I think. And, I guess we kind of were!
Our hotel on the river walk was a perfect back drop for the
events that were to come. All ready to
go out that night, we made our way to the other girls’ room where I was greeted
with signs that said “Cancer Plum Sucks,” a hammer, and a plum. Well, it actually wasn’t a plum, but a peach
painted purple to symbolize the plum (plums were out of season). After scouring the town and multiple stores,
Gina came up with that idea J. I headed to the balcony, grabbed the hammer
and pounded the ‘plum’ out of that peach, to the cheers of my girlfriends
behind me. It was a simple gesture, but
significantly profound. It was
tangible. I was symbolically beating my
cancer, while physically destroying this ‘plum’. I was “Kicking Cancer’s A$$.” A champagne toast would follow (which I could
only take a sip because it was too painful on my tongue). All the while, I’m looking at these beautiful
faces and loving hearts and wondering how I got so lucky to have such amazing
friends in my life. Women of such
character; such love; such faith; such devotion. They were such an integral part of my cancer
journey, so it was only fitting that they be there with me as I embark on my
“comeback” journey and face the Gladiator once again.
We enjoyed a lovely dinner on the River Walk, filled with
lots of conversation and just as many carbs (you have to carbo load before a
race J). It was so nice for me to see my friends from
across the map, engaging and getting to know each other...I was their only
link, but it was so special for me to see them bond. Unfortunately, the day had worn me out beyond
belief, so we headed to bed early, hoping for a good night’s sleep. When
morning came, so did the rain. But it
eventually ceased, and the clouds lingered for the rest of the day. We all put on our matching team shirts,
emblazoned with our motto, “Cancer Plum Sucks”.
A quick bite in the lounge (some oatmeal and fruit for energy) and we
were off to take on the day!
Getting from downtown San Antonio to the race site was no
easy task. It was like a bad episode of
Groundhog’s Day, where we kept going in circles trying to forge our way past
the construction and find the freeway entrance, only to find ourselves driving
past the hotel we had just left once again!
Has anyone ever yelled at the navigation lady as she spews out the wrong
directions to you? Well, there was
plenty of that going on! We eventually
made our way (not without much frustration) to the event. Once on the road, the frustration waned
quickly and the excitement of months of planning and preparations took
over. As we pulled into the muddy
parking field, filled with even muddier people, we were greeted by my entire
family, as well as Will’s parents who were all there to support me. Team Cancer Plum Sucks was a force to be
reckoned with. Just like during my
treatment, I had an entire team of support that was going to make sure I
succeeded.
After many pictures to commemorate this moment, we headed to
the registration where we were given our timing chips. OK, who were we kidding?! Timing chips really weren’t
necessary…actually, I wish we didn’t even have them. Unlike races in my past, where beating my
time was the most important thing(yes I am very competitive), I had no interest
or desire to even look at my time. I
didn’t care if someone saw my name in the results and I wasn’t in the top
50%. I didn’t care if I was the last
person to finish. I only cared about
finishing strong, with pride, with my friends by my side. Nothing would keep me from crossing the
finish line.
We entered the starting corral, where Dan “Nitro” Clark, the
original Gladiator was talking to the crowd getting us pumped for our start
time. I don’t recall how it
happened. If I just demanded his
attention, or if he just noticed our shirts.
But I talked to him briefly and told him that this was my “comeback”
event from cancer treatments only 3 months prior. He gave me a shout out on the speaker system
and along with that my comeback journey began with the sound of the starting
gun echoing into the sky.
Pure chaos ensued as we made our way through mud piles,
under barbed wire; through tire courses; over, in and out of dumpsters (thank
goodness for Will who helped us girls get in and out); over walls; jumping
fire; climbing cargo nets; more burpees than I care to remember; climbing
ropes; sliding down muddy hills into an even muddier pit; carrying a log
(basically a tree) with your teammates; etc., etc., etc. I’m tired just recalling the course! But that morning I prayed and asked God to
give me strength to make it through the day.
And unlike the month leading up to the event, I felt great. I had energy I hadn’t had, I wasn’t in pain,
and I was so happy to be doing what I loved to do. God provided for me. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
There was a moment on the course where we were between
obstacles, walking towards the next one on a tattered path that seemed to lead
to nowhere. There was an event volunteer
around a bend, that commented on the fact that we were walking…like we needed
to be pushing harder, striving more. I
simply showed him our shirts and said, “I have cancer.” He seemed to then insert his foot in mouth… I
was pushing, I was striving, even though to one person it may not have looked that
way. You never know another person’s
journey, so it is unfair to judge from what you see. John 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right
judgment. It was OK, because I knew what just being on
the course meant for me.
There were several obstacles where Will was required to
heave us ladies over a wall or out of a dumpster. The only obstacle I couldn’t complete was one
where you had a partner and you had to carry each other 50 yards a piece. Will carried me the first 50 yards, and there
was no way I was going to be able to throw him on my back and carry him as the
obstacle required. So, just like the
last 3 or 4 months, he carried me the rest of the way, with no complaints, with
no expectations. He carried me through
the mud and the muck of chemo, radiation, pain, sickness, dread, fear and he
also carried me through the mud and the muck of this course. But, just like he carried me, God carried us
both. Isaiah 46:4 I will be your God throughout your
lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
I savored every moment on that course. I loved seeing my brother run alongside taking
photos. I loved seeing my girls cheering
me on in their matching t-shirts. I
loved seeing my parents holding signs and smiling as they saw me jumping over
walls (this was the first race of mine they had ever come to). I loved seeing Shelly and Torri who didn’t do
the race, but were there to support me.
I loved seeing my in-laws (who had just moved here) cheering me on
despite my mother-in-law being on an oxygen tank. And, I loved seeing the way we all came
together as a team. Not individuals in
the same shirts taking on the course.
But a team of people all working together to accomplish something
great. They didn’t do it for their own
glory, but for mine. They wanted me to
succeed. They knew the price I paid to
have this moment. And I did it for God’s glory.
It’s amazing what HE can do when you let Him! And I wanted everyone to know
it. 1
Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for
the glory of God.
I crossed that finish line with the
most amazing group of people by my side and there to greet me. I crossed that finish
line knowing I had done it. By race standards, I was a Gladiator. I had completed the race set out for me (I even drank some of the free beer!). My “comeback” was complete. I was bruised and dirty and tired, but I had beaten
this course and I had beaten cancer. Whether
my cancer is completely dead or not, really didn’t matter… I have won. I crossed that finish line with my hands held high
in praise to the Lord. By God’s standards, the only ones that matter, I was a conqueror!
Addendum:
I was saddened and shocked to see an email from the Gladiator
Event and Dan “Nitro” Clark, who not long after the race in San Antonio had a heart
attack. He showed a picture of his first
workout and how this was the start of his “comeback”. It was ironic, or maybe simply God, that I had
my “comeback” at his event, and now he is having to have a “comeback” of his own.
The original Gladiator would now have to learn to
be a conqueror too. I have no doubt that God weaves lives and events
together as part of a grander plan. What
that plan is, who knows, but I wish Dan luck and hope he too finds strength in the
only one who matters, the Lord.
I also learned just today of a dear workout friend in California,
Nora, who had surgery just one day prior to this Gladiator event for colon cancer.
As I headed to San Antonio on my comeback,
she was just beginning her journey. I had
no idea that she was going through that. Today I saw a post on Facebook that they found
cancer in one of her lymph nodes and she was to start a 6 month regimen of chemo
pills. I know that she believes in our loving
Savior, and I pray that she is able to stay strong and find comfort and hope, even
in the bleakest moments. God will carry her
through this, just as He has carried me, and hopefully everyone who is afflicted
with illness of any kind will also seek Him. Please keep dear Nora in your prayers!
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